For Target to get beyond its data breach disaster, it needs to regain the trust of its shoppers. Mystifyingly, it has opted to issue statements that are, at best, misleading. Some tiptoe beyond misleading, since the chain had to know they were untrue when it issued them.

The latest example came Friday, when Target confirmed that encrypted PIN data was stolen. Then came the whopper: "The most important thing for our guests to know is that their debit card accounts have not been compromised due to the encrypted PIN numbers being taken."

Of course those debit card accounts have been compromised. Webster's dictionary defines compromise as exposing something "to risk or danger." When personal identification numbers that give full access to someone's bank account are in the hands of experienced and sophisticated cyberthieves, I think it's safe to say that those bank accounts are indeed exposed to risk or danger. How could anyone argue otherwise?

Target's statement emphasized that the cards were triple DES encrypted and that the encryption key was not stored in Target's systems. It added that the data "can only be decrypted when it is received by our external, independent payment processor."

First off, Target's people know well that any encryption can be broken, if the attacker spends enough time and has enough compute power. It may not be easy, but it can certainly be done. Triple DES is an excellent encryption option, but nothing is unbreakable. Therefore, saying that the data "can only be decrypted" by its payment processor is untrue.

Target should be applauded for not storing that encryption key anywhere on its system. Having it stored solely at its payment processor is also a good move, but processors' systems can be broken into as well. Indeed, given that they have data from a huge number of retailers, it's an especially attractive target.

So, in theory, how could the attacker get access to the PINs? First, a brute-force cracking effort on the encrypted data might work. Second, the key might be grabbed by an attack on the processor's systems, as has happened in the past. Third, there might be a Target insider -- or a processor insider -- who could give up the key for money. Or who might be tricked into giving it up, via social engineering, which cyberthieves love.

Had Target simply said that the stolen PINs were fully encrypted so there's an excellent chance that they won't be accessible, that would be fine. It could have also truthfully added, "We currently have not seen proof that the bad guys have in fact deciphered these PINs. We've also not seen any evidence that they haven't."

It could have said, "We have used top-notch encryption, so your PIN is probably safe for the moment. But please change your PIN right away, so you'll be even safer." Better yet, banks could force the PINs to be changed when the card is used next. That would get new PINs to be in place quickly, without locking any customers out (in theory).

But by stating that the codes are perfectly safe, Target is demonstrating the perfect way to not restore trust. I have noticed this tendency with a lot of marketers. If their product can do something very well, they feel a need to exaggerate it.

This follows the biggest lie of all, which Target unleashed on Dec. 20: "Yesterday, we shared that there was unauthorized access to payment card data at our U.S. stores. The issue has been identified and eliminated." The vagueness gives Target very little cover. What does it mean by "the issue"? In context, it's clearly meant to communicate that the method the attackers used "has been identified" and the security hole they took advantage of has been "eliminated."

A few days later, Target told state attorneys general that -- understandably -- it was still trying to determine the attackers' exact methods. That makes perfect sense, since data breach investigations take time and the initial indications often prove to be untrue. Target fully knew that and yet it immediately said it had identified the issue and then -- this is the killer -- had "eliminated" it. It was trying to convince people that the security risk was gone, when it knew that it was far too early to reliably say that.

Why would it say that, knowing it was false? The most likely -- albeit cynical -- interpretation is that it believed its intended audience (shoppers) would be trusting enough (and not technically astute enough) to not know it was false. In short, its customers would believe it and might not slow down their shopping at Target.

Target's behavior in all this is not at all unusual, but it is completely wrongheaded. Here's my advice to any company that suffers a data breach like this: Tell your customers the truth. Don't let the PR people and marketers make everything sound bright and happy. Your customers are going to hear the actual truth eventually, and if it contradicts what you have said in your statements, it is going to be harder for them to trust you in the future. Weaselly, soft-soap statements are no way to restore trust.

Evan Schuman has covered IT issues for a lot longer than he'll ever admit. The founding editor of retail technology site StorefrontBacktalk, he's been a columnist for CBSNews.com, RetailWeek and eWeek. Evan can be reached at eschuman@thecontentfirm.com. Look for his column every Tuesday.

Evan Schuman has covered IT issues for a lot longer than he'll ever admit. The founding editor of retail technology site StorefrontBacktalk, he's been a columnist for CBSNews.com, RetailWeek, Computerworld and eWeek. Evan can be reached at eschuman@thecontentfirm.com and he can be followed at twitter.com/eschuman.